Roles

Speech and language therapists do not normally come into mainstream schools. Their work is usually based in units attached to schools or in special schools or community health centres. Most children, whose language is severe enough to need therapy, also have other difficulties and will normally be placed in a special unit. However, speech and … Read More The role of the Speech and Language Therapist (NI)

The role of the resource teacher is to assist the class teacher and to provide additional one to one support for children with moderate learning difficulties. When a child is assessed to be at Stage 3 of the Three Stage Model, he/she is usually given extra help from the resource teacher. This is intended to … Read More The role of the Resource Teacher

Learning support teachers are employed to ensure that pupils will mild learning difficulties achieve maximum proficiency in literacy and numeracy before leaving primary school. It is likely that one learning support teacher will be shared between 2 or more schools. The learning support teacher provides help for pupils who have fallen behind the majority of … Read More The role of the Learning Support Teacher

The Senior Management Team/Board of Governors should have drawn up a discipline policy and/or a behaviour policy. It should have details of: Codes of conduct, rules and routines Rewards, sanctions and pastoral care for pupils The governors role in supporting the school. How the school with work with parents. How the staff will be supported, … Read More The role of School Management

The physiotherapist is concerned with the gross motor skills and mobility of a child. In cases where there has been an obvious physical difficulty the child will have been receiving support well before starting school. The physiotherapist is often involved with children who have dyspraxia, are blind or have cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, congenital syndromes, such … Read More The role of the Physiotherapist (NI)

It is vital for all concerned that parents play an active role in the education of their child. They know their child best and can explain what difficulties their child has. They will be a great source of information in helping you to decide how best to work with the child. They have very many … Read More The role of the Parents

The term paediatrician can mean different things; as consultants for children’s problems in a hospital, a child may see a community paediatrician as a young child in a development centre, prior to beginning school, or a child may see a school doctor as part of a program of children’s health screening. Every school has a … Read More The role of the Paediatrician (NI)

As part of the multidisciplinary team the occupational therapist receives referrals from medical staff, psychologists and from schools in relation to children. Although children at Stage 3 onwards can be seen and treated it is only a statutory requirement if part of a statement at Stage 5. Occupational Therapists may be called in for children … Read More The role of the Occupational Therapist (NI)

At present Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are appointed on the advice of a psychologist only when a child has been assessed at stage 3 of the Three Step Model. However, the recent circular 24/03 suggests that special needs assistants should only be appropriate where a pupil has a significant medical need or where there behaviour … Read More The Classroom / Special Needs Assistants (RoI)

Classroom assistants are appointed on the advice of a psychologist almost always when a child has a statement. Occasionally if a child without a statement is in danger of expulsion, a classroom assistant can be appointed if it will allow the child to remain in school. Classroom assistants are allocated to particular children and should … Read More Classroom Assistants (NI)